Cadiz Spanish Playing Cards, 1882

Item — Box: 1, item: 12

Scope and Contents

Unsealed in case. Description is for the card deck not the case. The case is for a different deck that is not in the collection, but the deck was originally in the case at time of accession and will continue to be housed within the case. The five of clubs dates the deck to 1882, but the donor paperwork lists as 1885.

Dimensions: 2.75" x 3.88"

Quantity: 48

Original inventory number: 13

Dates

Creation: 1882

Conditions Governing Access

Advanced notice required for access.

Biographical / Historical

The Cadiz pattern is found in the Philippines and Hispanic America and was derived from the Spanish National pattern. It was never popular in its home country and was made primarily for export to the colonies. Spanish suit symbols cups, swords, coins, and clubs and are normally numbers 1-12. A pecularity found in Spanish cards is that the cups, swords, and clubs have respectively one, two, and three gaps on the tops and bottoms of the marginal lines on every card, called pintas. Dougherty manufactured Spanish-suited cards as early as 1849 for sale in California, Texas, Mexico, South America, and even Europe, but most surviving examples are from later dates.

Full Extent

From the Collection: 2 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Physical Description

Housed in the case it came in, a blue two-part slip case from Russel Playing Card Co. Wrapping is severely torn and bear a revenue stamp for two cents from 1919. Cards are in great condition with printed designs on the faces. Three guides are written in foreign languages.